Maths

What is additive thinking?

Students are able to manipulate numbers by joining, separating, and comparing while engaging in flexible mathematical reasoning.  It is: 

• a capacity to work flexibly with the concepts, strategies and representations of addition and subtraction as they occur in a wide range of contexts (mathematical reasoning)
• going beyond memorisation of basic operational skills
• the means to communicate additive understanding effectively in a variety of ways (for example, words, diagrams, symbolic expressions, and written algorithms/equations)

Students use mathematical reasoning to build connections between inverse problems.  Addition is not just adding.  It’s subtraction as well, as it deals with questions where the start, change or result is unknown.  It is joining, separating and comparing.

Subtraction is not just “take away”.  It is also a comparison (how many more, how many less, what is the difference?)

We look forward to building on our strategies and involving ourselves in challenging learning experiences.